Area will have a new dessert in June

Monday

May 13, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Tuscaloosans don’t see snow often, but that could change in June. That’s when Tuscaloosa businessman John Nguyen plans to open Snow Corner, a dessert shop featuring shaved snow — a flavored dairy-based low-fat concoction that is described as being something between shaved ice and frozen yogurt.

By Patrick RupinskiBusiness Editor

Tuscaloosans don’t see snow often, but that could change in June.That’s when Tuscaloosa businessman John Nguyen plans to open Snow Corner, a dessert shop featuring shaved snow — a flavored dairy-based low-fat concoction that is described as being something between shaved ice and frozen yogurt.Nguyen said Snow Corner, which will be located at 4851 Rice Mine Road NE in The Shops of Lake Tuscaloosa, should be ready to open in mid-June.Nguyen said he first tasted shaved snow in California, where he said the treat is growing in popularity and becoming more trendy than frozen yogurt and bubble tea. “After trying it, I felt I should bring it to Alabama,” he said.A menu on the Snow Corner Facebook page suggests that shaved snow could be “the next sensation in the North American dessert market.”It goes on to describe shaved snow as “a simple yet elegant dessert invented in the subtropical island of Taiwan.“Also known as snow ice or snow-flake ice (xue-hua-bin in Chinese), this dairy-based confection resembles freshly fallen snow — soft, fluffy and icy cold. Unlike traditional shaved ice, shaved snow has a smooth and creamy taste similar to that of frozen yogurt,” it said.A March 2012 story in the San Francisco Chronicle on the increasing number of snow ice cafes in the Bay Area described snow ice as “the next generation of Asian shaved ice desserts.”The article said: “Whereas traditional shaved ice is made by grinding ice, then flavoring it with fruit syrups or condensed milk, snow ice starts out closer to ice cream. “Flavorings such as green tea or chocolate are mixed into a base of milk and water, then frozen into cylindrical blocks that look like giant candles. The blocks are mounted onto an ice shaver, which slices it off in sheets — thin enough that they melt in the mouth, much like cotton candy.” Nguyen said shaved snow melts like snow and tastes like yogurt. It will come in a number of flavors with various toppings.Snow Corner also will sell popcorn, cupcakes, macaroons, slushies and milk tea and will designed for all ages with televisions and other entertainment, he said.Nguyen said the shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.